Wandering Swordsman |

Then, Wang Ruoling moved gracefully and slowly to Shen Mo's side. Her movements were elegant and composed, as if each step was in rhythm with the morning breeze. She held another bronze sword tightly in her hand, looked at Shen Mo with gentle eyes, and said softly, "Young Master Shen, when you travel the world, it is difficult to defend yourself without a weapon when you encounter villains. I present this sword to you for self-defense."

Shen Mo took the sword, feeling its weight and warmth, a surge of warmth welling up in his heart. He bowed slightly and respectfully replied, "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Wang. I will definitely visit you again if I have the opportunity in the future."

Wang Ruoling smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "Yes, Young Master Shen, you are welcome to come anytime. The gates of the Wang residence are always open to you."

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned to the servant beside her and ordered, "Go and bring me the dress I prepared."

The servant responded and went to fetch her, returning shortly with a fine garment. Wang Ruoling took the garment, gracefully walked to Zhao Xue, handed it to her, and said softly, "Sister, since you're going to visit relatives, you should dress nicely to make a good impression. I have a dress here that I've always been reluctant to wear, but now I can't fit into it anymore. If you don't mind, please accept it."

Zhao Xue accepted the clothes, a bright smile spreading across her face. "Miss Wang, thank you for your kindness. How could I possibly dislike such beautiful clothes?" She gently stroked the fabric of the clothes, her eyes filled with joy.

Seeing this, Master Wang nodded in satisfaction and then ordered his servants, "Go and bring three horses."

Before long, three strong, fine horses were led to the group. Master Wang walked up to He Yun, Shen Mo, and Zhao Xue, handing them the reins one by one: "My three young friends, these are the finest horses from my household. I hope they can lend you a helping hand."

He Yun took the reins and said gratefully, "Thank you, Master Wang. Then I won't stand on ceremony."

After taking the reins, Shen Mo hesitated for a moment. He turned to He Yun beside him and said, "Brother He, to be honest, I don't know how to ride a horse."

He Yun then realized that Zhao Xue probably couldn't ride a horse either. He immediately turned to Zhao Xue and asked, "Miss Zhao, what about you?"

Zhao Xue nodded, a hint of confidence flashing in her eyes: "I learned horseback riding when I was young, so it shouldn't be a problem."

Seeing that Zhao Xue indicated she could ride a horse, He Yun then turned to Shen Mo and patted him on the shoulder: "Riding a horse is actually very simple. I'll teach you along the way. I believe you'll be able to ride very well soon."

For Shen Mo, horseback riding was an essential skill for venturing into the martial world, and since He Yun was willing to teach him, he was determined to learn. Therefore, Shen Mo gratefully said, "Thank you, Brother He. I'll have to trouble you then."

Shen Mo then glanced at the sky and realized it was time to set off, so he said to He Yun, "Brother He, it's getting late. We should get going."

He Yun nodded in agreement, turned to face Master Wang and Ouyang Song, bowed deeply, and said with firmness and gratitude, "Master Wang, Master, we are about to set off. Please take care of yourselves."

Ouyang Song stepped forward, patted He Yun on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "Yun'er, go. If you encounter anything you can't handle on the way, remember to send a message by carrier pigeon to inform Master. Master will come to your aid as soon as possible."

He Yun nodded in agreement, "Yes, disciple will be careful on this trip and will not take any risks lightly."

With a crisp sound of hooves, He Yun, Shen Mo, and Zhao Xue set off in the direction they were going. Master Wang and Wang Ruoling stood before the mansion gate, watching their figures gradually disappear into the distance until the last one vanished from the street, before slowly turning back into the mansion. That scene seemed frozen in that peaceful morning, becoming an eternal memory.

......

On the eleventh day of the twelfth lunar month, a biting wind blew and scattered snowflakes drifted down from the sky, covering Liaocheng in a white coat.

After several days of travel, Shen Mo and his group finally arrived at this historically significant city. The city gate was tall and majestic, bright flags fluttered on the city walls, the streets inside were wide and clean, lined with shops, and pedestrians hurried by, creating a bustling scene.

Upon entering the city, He Yun stopped his horse, turned to Zhao Xue, and asked with concern, "Miss Zhao, we have now arrived in Liaocheng. Do you know the detailed address of your relatives?"

Zhao Xue's expression changed slightly, looking somewhat bewildered. She gently shook her head and replied, "Young Master He, before my grandmother passed away, she told me to go to Liaocheng to find my uncle. She also told me that my uncle runs a teahouse in Liaocheng. But she didn't tell me the specific address..." Her words carried a hint of helplessness and anxiety, clearly indicating that she had no clue what to do next.

He Yun sighed softly and said, "Miss Zhao, Liaocheng is so big..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shen Mo interrupted him, her tone calm and rational: "Brother He, Miss Zhao, why don't we ask the residents of this city how many teahouses there are in Liaocheng? Once we have that information, we can search one by one. I'm sure we'll find them."

Upon hearing this, He Yun nodded as if he had suddenly realized something: "Yes, Brother Shen is quite right. Miss Zhao, then let's not delay and go inquire quickly." As soon as he finished speaking, he took the lead and rode forward, leading Shen Mo and Zhao Xue towards the center of the city.

They found a post station in the center and temporarily entrusted their horses to it. Then, starting from the center, they proceeded along the bustling streets, stopping occasionally to ask vendors and pedestrians for directions. At each stop, He Yun would politely bow and ask if anyone knew how many teahouses were nearby. Shen Mo waited patiently by the side, while Zhao Xue appeared somewhat nervous but remained calm.

After making some inquiries, they learned that there were more than a dozen teahouses in Liaocheng, scattered throughout the city. He Yun, Shen Mo, and Zhao Xue decided to split into three groups, each heading to different areas to search. They agreed to meet at the post station in the city center an hour later.

Time passed slowly, and the three of them visited several teahouses, but none of them could find Zhao Xue's uncle. When they met at the post station, Shen Mo looked tired, but his expression remained firm: "It's really strange. We've searched every teahouse in Liaocheng, but we still haven't found Miss Zhao's uncle."

He Yun also seemed somewhat disappointed, but he quickly regained his composure, turned to Zhao Xue, and comforted her, "Miss Zhao, don't be discouraged. Perhaps we've missed some clues. You've had a long and tiring journey these past few days, so why don't we find an inn to stay the night? We can continue our inquiries tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xue's eyes flashed with gratitude, and she nodded: "Young Master He, Young Master Shen, thank you. Thank you for your help today. If you still can't find it by tomorrow, then you may leave now."

Shen Mo smiled and patted Zhao Xue on the shoulder, encouraging her, "Miss Zhao, don't worry. We will definitely find your uncle. Let's go, let's find a place to rest first."